Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalwelch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalwelch’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; double bright orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOKALWELCH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dokalwelch’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with double-type flowers and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in August, 2008 of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Sanga’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Ficalanjamaica’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,852, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in August, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dokalwelch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dokalwelch’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double bright orange-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Sanga’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Sanga’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of         ‘Sanga’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower later than plants of         ‘Sanga’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have double-type flowers whereas         plants of ‘Sanga’ have single-type flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Sanga’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Sanga’ have darker orange-colored flowers         than plants of the new Kalanchoe.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Ficalanjamaica’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Ficalanjamaica’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe are smaller than leaves         of plants of ‘Ficalanjamaica’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of         ‘Ficalanjamaica’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Ficalanjamaica’ differ in         flower color as plants of the new Kalanchoe have bright         orange-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Ficalanjamaica’ have         bright yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Ficalanhawn’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,446. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of ‘Ficalanhawn’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         ‘Ficalanhawn’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe are smaller than leaves         of plants of ‘Ficalanhawn’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Ficalanhawn’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Ficalanhawn’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Ficalanhawn’ have darker         orange-colored flowers than plants of the new Kalanchoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dokalwelch’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for three weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Dokalwelch’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Sanga’,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana             ‘Ficalanjamaica’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,852. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically greyish white to             reddish brown in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density             to sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and             uniformly mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with             numerous cymes positioned above the foliar plane; triangular             in shape with rounded crown; appropriate for 10 to 15-cm             containers; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about five to             seven lateral branches developing per plant; pinching             (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but will             enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 137B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Vaulted.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 137B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; succulent;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 147A to 147B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double-type flowers arranged             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower             buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and             flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously             for at least seven weeks; flowers face mostly upright to             outwardly depending on the position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in the Northern             Hemisphere; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least             14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Uniform flowering habit, under short             day/long night photoinductive conditions, plants begin             flowering about 11 to 13 weeks; actual time to flower is             primarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 43 days under interior conditions; individual             flowers last about 17 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 138A.         -   Petals and petaloids.—Arrangement: About 18 to 22 petals in             multiple whorls. Length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 4             mm to 5 mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 28A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to between 24D and 25D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 28B; venation, close             to 28B; color becoming closer to 28A to 28B with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between             24D and 25D; venation, close to between 24D and 25D; color             does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect, rigid. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: If present,             about eight per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther size: About 0.1 mm by             0.3 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther color: Close to             150D. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A.             Gynoecium: Pistil number: About four to eight. Pistil             length: About 8 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color:             Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to             8D, crystalline. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: If developed, up to 30 seeds per             flower. Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Kalanchoe     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalwelch’ as illustrated and described. 